Playbooks
Breakdown
PA Post Dig runs off play action from Strong I Close with 21 personnel, showing a two man route combo to the play side. The outside receiver runs a vertical release into a post working toward the middle of the field, while the inside receiver breaks off a dig route that sits down and crosses underneath the post, creating a natural high low read on any single deep defender. A third receiver releases to the flat area on a shallow drift route to hold underneath defenders and give the quarterback a checkdown outlet. This is primarily a man beater that stresses a single deep half or deep third defender since the post and dig occupy the same vertical and horizontal windows, and the primary read progression starts with the post for an explosive shot before working down to the dig if the safety jumps the post route.
Defensive Reads
Watch for a single high safety alignment pre-snap since Cover 3 and Cover 1 leave only one defender to cover both the post and dig, forcing a difficult choice. If the defense shows two deep safeties in Cover 2 or Cover 4, the post route will be squeezed, so expect the quarterback to work the dig underneath instead. User the deep safety and key his first step at the snap: if he bites on the play action fake, break on the post route for an interception opportunity. Watch linebacker depth on the dig route crossing zone, since a linebacker sitting in a shallow zone or spying can undercut the route if the quarterback throws it late. Beware of a hard edge blitz off the play action fake since the offensive line is selling run blocking, which can collapse the pocket before both routes fully develop.
Usage Tips
Use this on early downs or second and medium when defenses are more likely to sell out on the run look from Strong I personnel.
Check the safety depth pre-snap: if you see a single high safety cheating toward the post side, throw the dig instead since the post window will be tight.
Hot route the flat runner into a deeper option like a corner route against teams that sit in zone shells with linebackers clogging the underneath area.
Pair this play with HB Dive and HB Off Tackle earlier in a series to sell run action and get defenders flowing downhill before dialing up PA Post Dig.
Sequence this with Mesh Post or Y Trail later in the drive since both use similar formation and personnel but attack different levels, keeping the defense guessing.
